Rolf Harris in Pembrokeshire & Carn Llidi Cottage

Following in the footsteps of Artist Graham Sutherland, Rolf Harris explored Lleithr a coastal farm with owner Mrs I James. He loved the environment, the animals, was wonderful with the children and painted the fig tree just as Sutherland did.
Sutherland often stayed with Mrs James’ family in order to paint the Pembrokeshire views he loved so much and as a sign of his appreciation was kind enough to give them one of his paintings.

To see Rolf Harris in Pembrokeshire watch Rolf on Welsh Art, BBC One Wales, Wed 9th March. His paintings are on display in Oriel y Parc, St Davids until August. 

                                         View from Carn Llidi Cottage
Mrs James also owns a wonderful holiday property Carn Llidi Cottage with breathtaking views across National Trust common land. A perfect place for budding artists, walkers, golfers, beach enthusiasts, surfers, horse riders and nature lovers. The Pembrokeshire Coastal Path is virtually on the door step and fabulous Whitesands Bay is just 1.5 miles away, St Davids City Golf Course is only 1 mile, the village city and its magnificent Cathedral 1.5 miles. Book early to avoid disappointment. Click on the name for full details.

Carn Llidi Cottage

Cawl Cooking Championship Saundersfoot

Its not too late. Get youself to Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire today to enjoy the St Davids Day Food & Craft Festival. You could even become a judge in the Cawl Cooking Championship. Cawl is a traditional hearty Welsh broth made with meat and vegetables served with bread and cheese. Many local eateries will be taking part. A great opportunity to indulge in some delicious Welsh produce.

Carn Llidi Cottage,Pembrokeshire hits the News of the World

Carn Llidi Cottage

It's been in the News of the World and its been on telly. Carn Llidi Cottage is becoming quite a celebrity.

Harry Scott and his family thoroughly enjoyed a holiday in 'south Welsh wonderland called Pembrokeshire' and wrote about their experiences in the News of the World Feb 27th 2011.

They loved coasteering, a unique method of moving around the coastline including adventure swimming, rock hopping, jumping and if you must walking, the village city of St Davids and its magnificent Cathedral, Whitesands Bay voted one of the top 20 beaches in the world, Pembroke, Manorbier and Carew castles, Carew Karting and walking the dramatic and celebrated Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, not to mention all the village pubs and good food. All this within easy reach of Carn Llidi Cottage.

In Scott's own words:

'Our own little slice of heaven was the wonderful Carn Llidi Cottage at Lleithr Farm, less than two miles outside St Davids and just 15 minutes walk from the glories of Whitesands beach. Its a cosy, spacious, luxurious home with a TV in nearly every room.' Click on the name for full details.

Pictures  Coasteering, Whitesands Bay by Jo Sime & St Davids Cathedral

                                                 

Oak Lodge - a luxurious modern cottage style holiday home in the Teifi Valley

Oak Lodge

Situated in the small village of Llechryd, through which the River Teifi winds its way to the sea, this bright and spacious elegant home is the perfect place from which to explore the delights of the Cardigan Bay Heritage Coast.

Fabulous Poppit Sands a perfect beach for family fun, the pretty village of Cenarth where salmon leap and home to the National Coracle Centre, inspirational Cilgerran Castle painted by Turner, bustling market town of Cardigan full of shops and the Wildlife Centre standing in Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve are all within a 4 mile radius. So much to see and do so close by. Oak Lodge is a wonderful choice for a holiday in Wales. Click on the name for full details.

                                                                    Poppit Sands

Pancake Madness at Erddig 18th C Welsh Country House (National Trust)

Have fun making pancakes, throwing pancakes, racing with pancakes at Erddig Country House, Wrexham, North Wales
Annual festival of all things pancake!! Try your hand at making pancakes, there are pancake races of all types, throwing pancake competition, art and craft workshop with pancakes as the main theme.

Adult £7, Child £3.50, Family £17.50, Group £5.40
11am - 3pm on Saturday & Sunday
5th & 6th March

Hidden Treasures at Penrhyn Castle

Join the House staff of Penrhyn Castle, Bangor, Gwyneth for a behind the scenes tour of some of the missed treasures around the House. View rarely seen items from the Penrhyn Castle' collection and visit rooms currently tucked away off the visitor route!

Adult £10 (£5 for National Trust Members)
10am - 11.30 on
25th March
28th April
27th May
24th June
29th July
26th August
30th September
28th October

Powis Castle and Garden Walk the Borders - Spring Garden Tour

Find out about the history of the world famous garden at Powis Castle, Welshpool, Powis and discover how the gardeners keep it looking so good. Take some ideas and inspiration home with you!

Garden Tour Tickets £3.50 + normal National Trust entry charge
11.30am - 1pm on
16th March
6th April
20th April
4th May
18th May
1st June
15th June

Welsh Cake Recipe (A favourite of Mr Rees, Proprietor of Quality Cottages)

If you are unable to be in Wales you can still enjoy
a traditional Welsh treat on St David's Day

Ingredients
250g (8oz) SR flour
75g (3oz) butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
75g (3oz) currants
1 egg
a little milk to mix
extra caster sugar to sprinkle
1/4 teaspoon mixed (spice optional

Method
Rub fat into flour
Add dry ingredients
Add egg & milk
Mix to a stiff paste
Roll out, cut into rounds and cook on a bakestone (or a heavy based frying pan) over a medium heat until golden brown.
When cold sprinkle with sugar. Alternatively butter before eating.

Bakestones (in Welsh planc,maen,llechwen, gradell) are made of cast iron. Secondhand ones can sometimes be bought in Welsh antique shops or new ones in Welsh craft shops and country hardware stores. 

A new look for Quality Cottages on St Davids Day

Gwyl Dydd Dewi Sant Dedwydd

Happy St Davids Day

Today Quality Cottages is proud to launch its new logo and brochure cover.

We are proud and happy to share our love of Wales with its fabulous coastal, rural and mountain scenery and wonderful golden beaches.

What better way to do so than with the iconic symbol of Wales the golden daffodil.

We have hundreds of fabulous holiday cottages for you to enjoy throughout Wales

If you would like a copy of the Quality Cottages brochure call freephone 0800 007 5299 or order on line info@qualitycottages.co.uk

www.qualitycottages.co.uk

Rolf paints in the style of Shani Rhys James in Rolf on Welsh Art 2nd March

This week in Rolf on Welsh Art, Rolf meets fellow Australian and award winning artist Shani Rhys James. Born in Australia to a Welsh father and Australian mother Shani eventually moved to the UK where she trained as an artist in Loughborough and London and has lived for many years in Llangadfan between Welshpool and Dolgellau, Wales Her paintings are powerful and emotional with imaginative and observational elements.
Rolf Harris with the aid of a hand mirror attempts to paint a self portrait in the same style as Shani whose own self portraits are influenced by her family history and childhood experiences.
Rolf's finished painting can be seen in the National Museum Cardiff.

Shani Rhys James

                                         Rolf with his self portrait painted in the style of Shani Rhys James

Pembrokeshire Coastal Bus Service - Car free and care free

When planning your trip to the Pembrokeshire countryside this summer why not explore some of the opportunites to travel through this gorgeuos county on foot, bike, bus or train.

Did you know that there is a network of coastal buses to help you access the coastal walks, beaches, boat trips, local villages and attractions?, so planning your car free day out couldn’t be easier.

If you’re a walker take advantage of the Pembrokeshire Coast path national trail and enjoy a walk from your cottage door step, using the Pembrokeshire Coastal buses to get back without having to retrace your steps.

The Poppit Rocket, Strumble Shuttle, Celtic Cruiser, Puffin Shuttle and Coastal Cruiser bus services run 7 days a week from May - September. Did you know that Pembrokeshire’s Coastal buses run on recycled vegetable oil?

For those staying in Pembroke, Saundersfoot or Tenby you can use the existing local bus services that run all year round.

Plan your journey with Traveline Cymru. The journey planner will do all the hard work for you. 
www.traveline.org.uk    or text 84268

Or visit www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/transport and click on tietables for up to date bus timetable information.

For walking, cycling, bus and train inspiration contact http://www.pembrokeshiregreenways.co.uk/

Videos of Pembrokeshire Coastal Bus Journeys

Pembrokeshire County Council have produced 5 excellent videos of coastal bus journeys around the spectacular Pembrokeshire coastline including the Poppit Rocket, Strumble Shuttle, Puffin Shuttle, Coastal Cruiser and Celtic Coaster. Click on coastal bus journeys to see them.

Llynnon Mill, Llanddeusant, Anglesey



Anglesey was once known as the 'Granary of Wales' because the island produced more grain than any other part of the country. At one time there were at least 50 working windmills and watermills. Now Llynnon Mill in Llanddeusant, Anglesey is the ony working mill left in the whole of Wales. You can buy stoneground wholemeal flour made from 100% organic wheat and enjoy cakes baked using the same flour in a traditional Welsh tea served in the mill's tearoom.

The mill's stoneground flour is particularly benefitial in a diabetic diet because the low glycemic index helps to control blood sugars.

Mix n' Match Bodlasan Holiday Cottages near Trearddur Bay Anglesey

Bodlasan

A choice of three cottages on a beautiful, peaceful headland on the northwest coast of Anglesey with sweeping views of  the Alaw Estuary, Snowdon and Holyhead Mountain, just 400 yards from an unspoilt, hardly used beach and just a short drive from pretty Trearddur Bay.

Bodlasan House sleeps 7, Bodlasan Cottage sleeps 6

or take both cottages together for a party of 13.

Two dogs are welcome free.

Click on the cottage names for full details.

The beach 400 yards from Bodlasan feels like your own.

                                                                              Pretty Trearddur Bay is a short drive from Bodlasan

Prince William & Kate Middleton today carried out their first official engagement as a Royal couple

The new Trearddur Bay Lifeboat ' Hereford Endeavour', was launched on Anglesey today by Royal couple Prince William and his fiancee Kate Middleton, their first Royal duty together. The couple are to be married in April and will continue to live on Anglesey in Wales where Prince William is currently working.

St Davids Day Celebration in Riverside Shopping Centre Haverfordwest

Enjoy a special St Davids Day celebration at Riverside Shopping Centre in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. Dathlu Dewi, an open air celebration for St Davids Day with the Pembrokeshire Welsh Language forum from 11am - 2pm on Tuesday 1st March
There will be stalls, cookery demonstrations, singing, traditional folk dancing and members of the Scarlets rugby squad to talk to.
Something for the whole family to enjoy.

Rolf on Welsh Art in Ystradgynlais near the Brecon Beacons National Park

On BBC Wales this week 23rd March Rolf Harris will be visiting the small mining town of Ystradgynlais on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park. He will be exploring the adopted home and inspiration of Polish artist Josef Herman. Herman who lost his whole family during the holocaust fled Nazi occupied Warsaw and settled in the mining community of Ysradgynlais in 1944. He studied working people all of his life and particularly coal miners during his 11 years there. Rolf will attempt to paint in the style of Herman. Rolf's painting can be seen in the Glynn Vivian Gallery in Swansea.

'In the pit' by Josef Herman   

Another lovely new Quality Cottage in the Brecon Beacons National Park

Trwyn Tal

A stylish barn conversion sitting in the heart of the Black Mountains on a remote hillside next to the owners house. An absolutely stunning location, within the Brecon Beacons National Park close to Hay on Wye and Abergavenny.

Click on the name for full details.

Hay on Wye 'Book Town'

Abergavenny Market

Don't forget to watch Rolf on Wales tonight 16th Feb

Tonight on BBC One Wales, Rolf Harris will be painting a portrait of Snowdonia farmer Hefin Jones, father of Welsh opera singer Bryn Terfel. He will paint in the style of the late Sir Kyffin Williams celebrated Welsh artist whose work can be seen in Oriel Kyffin Williams Gallery in Rhosmeirch, Llangefni, Anglesey , the home in which he once lived.
Rolf's painting of Hefin Jones is currently on show at the Oriel Ynys Mon in Llangefni.

The late Sir Kyffin Williams

A portrait painted by Sir Kyffin Williams

FREE Entry on St Davids Day March 1st

There will be Free Entry to Cadw properties (Cadw is the official guardian of the built heritage of Wales)including Welsh castles and the National Botanical Gardens of Wales on St Davids Day. Great days out for all ages.

                                                                       Conwy Castle

                                                   National Botanical Gardens, Llanarthne